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What Price Safety? {edited Version}

how much is it worth to you to feel safe and secure?
how much would you spend? how much could you afford?
what is the monetary value that you would place on your life?
how much money would it take? how much would you sacrifice?
what price safety? how much money would you spend
just to have that feeling of security once again?

too frightened to get on the elevator in the building where you reside
don't know if you'll make it to your door before a thief is at your side
too scared to walk to your car alone in a public parking lot
don't know if you'll get the keys in the door before you're assaulted or shot
America has been on heightened alert since the Twin Towers did fall
the airports, the borders and Homeland Security are constantly on the ball
so how much would you spend to remove from your life that spirit of fear?
how many dollars would it take to protect what you hold dear?

there're not enough police to go around to be in society's face
so security officers take up the slack and stand in their place
we've become the front line defenders that the community sees
to detect, protect and defend them and their property
yet without benefit of weapons, no batons, no vests or guns
we hold to our positions and we get the job done
but we're at a disadvantage when it comes to getting paid
for we barely make what would be considered a livable wage
what price safety? what would it be worth to you
to give security officers what they are due?
what price safety? I ask you once more
what price would you pay just to feel secure?
WHAT PRICE SAFETY?

Copyright © | Year Posted 2009




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Date: 2/12/2009 8:08:00 AM
Any how I do agree with your poems message - I thank God every day that I'm no longer that man that I once was - God Bless you hon, MJ
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Date: 2/12/2009 8:06:00 AM
Louise - This is a very well written poem that does hit on a very familiar subject with me. I don't want to go into details but I have seen both good and bad when it comes to what Security Officers face on the job and mine has always been from the other side of the Law - One thing I totally agree on is how underpaid they truly are not to mention the fact that they aren't allowed to carry "weapons" If I was out on a crime spree I would be strapped to the hilt - Nature of the Business - God Bless
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Date: 2/12/2009 7:34:00 AM
The rhyme in this is great of course, smooth natural flow as well. The message though is far greater, pointing out that those we count so much on, we take for granted. That's a shameful thing. They should get more, so much more after all the protect our lives, they're not playing baseball or stealing money on Wall Street. Our lives! You got me going with this one, well done! Michael
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